NO SURVIVORS: AA Flight 5342

 “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215.”

BY C STONE | STONE NEWS NETWORK

The Fuselage of the jet was found upside down in 3 sections in the Potomac River. Thera are no survivors of the crash, when a Military Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Jet 5342.

Both flights were on a standard flight pattern, the transportation secretary has said. 

“This was a clear night last night; the helicopter was in the standard pattern. If you live in the DC area, you will see helicopters up and down the river,” he said during a news conference.

“This was a standard fight pattern last night as well.”

“The American Airline flight coming in to land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA, so this was not unusual with a military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA,” Duffy said.

There was a press briefing taking place at Reagan National Airport with Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. The passenger jet had 64 people on board, along with 3 soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter. Figure skaters from the National Development Camp were said to be on board.

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“We don’t yet have numbers, and, of course, we’re not going to give any names out at this point,” Brennan said. “But it appears to look like coaches, young skaters, family members – and it could be quite a large number.”

The athletes had been returning from the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, US Figure Skating said in an earlier statement.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

The Black Hawk helicopter was on a training flight. A large fireball could be seen on video as the two collided mid-air. 

Airport closure: Reagan National Airport is closed until at least 11 a.m. ET Thursday, officials said.